Sarasota poodle heads to Westminster

Sterling, a silver standard poodle, will compete against the best of his breed at the famed New York show

By THOMAS BECNEL

If Sterling isn't the very standard of a Standard Poodle, then he's close — close enough for the celebrated Westminster Dog Show.

The Sarasota dog will try to impress New York City judges Monday morning with his perfect carriage and nimble gait, along with the air of distinction that goes along with his glossy silver coat. Then there's his personality, which is as big as the Big Apple.

“If there's such a thing as a smile on a dog's face,” said his handler, Dan Giles, “he has it as he runs around the ring.”

While Sterling basks in the spotlight, his owners will be cowering offstage.

“When Sterling goes into the ring, I'm a nervous wreck,” said Mary Sanders, a Sarasota dentist. “Every single time — like a bad stage mom.”

Sanders owns the 6-year-old poodle with her office manager, Darla Hancock. They've been entering and winning dog shows all over the country.

They don't expect to win at Westminster — a rival poodle named London has racked up 91 “Best of Show” awards — but they do think Sterling will put on a show.

“People are drawn to him,” Hancock said. “He is so unique.”

Silver distinction

Many poodle owners and breeders are wealthy — wealthy enough to fly dogs around the country in private jets.

Sanders and Hancock laugh when they say they're not in that league.

Both of them grew up in central Florida and went to the University of Florida. Both seem more down-home than upmarket.

Hancock calls Sterling “That boy.” She describes him as a couch potato who is not much of a retriever. What he is, she says, is “gorgeous.”

Yet his distinctive silver coat works against him in top-level competitions. Some judges prefer poodles of a more traditional color.

“The only downfall that boy has is that he's silver,” Hancock said. “It's a white-and-black poodle world.”

Hours of prep

Giles, a groomer and handler in Leesburg, will lead Sterling through the New York show.

“He's a very special dog for me, too,” he said. “We've had a lot of incredible wins along the way.”

Last week, Giles was worried that a weekend snowstorm in New York would throw off their schedule. Before a competition, Team Sterling will spend days getting ready.

A thorough washing and drying might take four hours. Trimming, grooming and costuming will take two days.

“He'll be in the ring for maybe 20, 25 minutes on Monday, but the preparation going in will be many, many hours,” Giles said. “It's more than just a dog or dog show. It's much more than that.”

Final show

Sanders and Hancock got into dog breeding almost by accident. It started when they bought a beautiful poodle.

“Everybody said, you have to show that dog,” Hancock says, “and it took off from there.”

Showing led to breeding and breeding led to Sterling, who now has 48 puppies all over the world.